Compression tool



Nov. 3, 1964 w. R. MCDURMONT 3,154,981

COMPRESSION TOOL Filed June 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet. l

INVENTOR. ML??? M0u 72?.) Win M ,4? IYEYS Nov. 3, 1964 w. R. MCDURMONT COMPRESSION TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 8, 1961 OP 0''.- T9

Nov. 3, 1964 w. R. MODURMONT COMPRESSION TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1961 INVENTOR. WALTOQ MQQJQMO T Haw/5 N pm Q. & wv

Nov. 3, 1964 w. R. M DURMONT ,9

COMPRESSION TOOL Filed June 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ."Q 1 \\\\s film/[[12,

INVENTOR. WALTEQ. MQQJQMONT BY J United States Patent Olfice ils lai Patented Nov. 3, 15964 3,154,981 CGMPRESSEON T001.

Walter R. lltlcfurmont, Birmingham, A121,, assrgnor to Anderson Electric Corporation, Birmingham, Ala, a corporation of Alabama Filed June 3, 1%, Ser. No. 115,625 Claims. (Cl. Ell-) This invention relates to a compression tool and more particularly to a tool especially adapted for crimping tubular electrical fittings and the like.

Heretofore crimping devices available in the art, particularly in the electrical industry, have had several serious shortcomings. The prior devices for the most part have been of three basic types:

(1) A one hand or plier type (2) Two hand bolt cutter (3) Two hand hydraulic The one hand, or plier type, generally contains integral dies for a given external connector configuration while the bolt cutter and hydraulic types generally have provision for interchangeable dies for any given external connector configuration. Prior devices, for the most part, have therefore been dependent on a multiplicity of die sizes for each individual conductor size. Correspondingly, it has been necessary to provide an individual connector size for each conductor diameter. In addition, the tools of the prior art which have provided a fourway crimp have not been usable for overhead work by linemen and they have not been adapted for midspan crimping operations on a continuous conductor.

The present invention provides a novel tool which eliminates all of the undesirable features enumerated above and provides many advantages hitherto unrealized.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a four-way compression tool which can be used for crimping a connector to join a plurality of electrical conductors in a continuous conductor.

Ano her object is to provide a self-centering, positive acting crimping tool which will give a completely symmetrical four-way crimp on a single connector sleeve covering a wide range of conductor diameters.

An additional object is to provide a four-way crimping tool which crimps to a pro-selected pressure rather than volume of metal.

A further object is to provide a mechanical four-way crimping tool in which the crimping dies or nibs are maintained in orientation with a common center at all times during the crimping action and in which the dies move towards said common center in a straight line.

Briefly the tool of the present invention comprises a head having a workpiece-receiving mouth portion in the forward end thereof and said head has four opposed crimping dies aligned with a common center disposed in an operating space at the inner end of the mouth portion. A stationary jaw member is formed integrally with the head at the forward end thereof and carries one of said dies. A first slide member carrying another one of the dies on a forward axial extension thereof is movable toward the stationary die in a line through the common center.

The first slide member has a pair of forwardly extending angularly disposed arm members on either side of the forward extension and respective auxiliary slide members are slideably disposed on said arm members, each carrying another or said die members along facing side edges thereof. A pair of roller guide means, each rotatably mounted in said head, are in rolling contact with A first spring means biases the first slide member away from said stationary die. Second and third spring means bias the auxiliary slide members outwardly from the axial extension against the respective roller guide means and the auxiliary slide members are movable toward the axial extension by the roller guide means during crimping movement of the first slide member toward the stationary die, whereby all of the movable dies are closed with respect to the stationary die.

Means is provided for actuating the first slide member and release means is also provided for limiting the operation of the actuating means at a pre-selected crimping pressure of the dies.

The angular relation of the arm member relative to the axial extension is such that the movement of the die member on the extension relative to the stationary die is the same in a linear sense as the movement of the other two dies is relative to one another.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent in the following specification and claims, and in the drawings in which:

PEG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a typical connector and conductor arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a. perspective view of a crimped connection;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial section of the tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial section similar to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken along line 9-3 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective of the release means;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a modified form of head;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section taken along lines 1Z-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the pressure release mechanism; and

FIGS. 14-17 are diagrammatic views of the crimping rubs, conductor and connector during the crimping operatron.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly FIG. 1, a crimping tool embodying the principles of the present invention is shown and designated generally by reference numeral 2%. It has a head .21, hydraulic pump means 2.2 and a pair of handles 23, 24. The pump means and handles are standard parts and of conventional design.

Head 21 provides single rigid means for mounting dies and has an opening or mouth portion 25 at the forward end as (see also FIG. 6) which is suitably dimensioned to receive a workpiece or sleeve 27. Head 21 is composed of a metal housing 23 comprised of top and bottom halves 2 9 and 3d contacting one another along inwardly disposed edges 31 and being held in place by screws 32. The front or forward part 33 of the housing 28 is open, permitting access into the operating space of the mouth portion 25 for the movable male crimping dies 34, 35, 355.

integrally formed with the head 21 at the forwend end 26 thereof is stationary jaw member 37 carrying inwardly disopsed male nib or die 38. Thus, a first opposed pair 34 and 33 of dies and a'second opopsed pair 35 and 36 of dies are arranged around the space 42 and automatically providerfor sidewise entry of acable or the like into space 42 between/die 38 ahd die 36. The .dies 34, 35, 36 and 38 each have a nose portion for biting into a connector. Slideably disposed within housing 28 is slide member 39 having forward axial extension 40 carrying die member 34 at the front end 41 thereof facing die 33, and die 34 is movable by slide member 39 rectilinearly toward die 38 on stationary jaw 37 across operating space 42 of mouth portion 25.

Slide member 39 has a pair of outwardly extending arms 43, 44 which are angularly disposed in a forward direction relative to axial extension 40.

Slideably disposed along the forward edges 45, 46 of respective arms 43, 44 are rectangular trapezoidal auxiliary slide members 47, 48 which have base edges slideable on roller bearing means 49 or the like. Respective nibs or dies 35, 36 are mounted on facing edges 50, 51 of said auxiliary slide members 47, 48 so that they are oriented in a line at right angles to the line passing through dies 34, 38 and all dies are thereby aligned with a common center defined by the intersection of said lines.

The outer rectangular side edges 52, 53 of auxiliary slide members 47, 48 are disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rectilinear movement of slide member 39 and are maintained in rolling contact with respective roller guide means 54, 55 which are rotatably mounted within housing 28 near the forward end 26 of the head 21. The slide members 47, 48 are thus cammed simultaneously toward each other.

Respective spring means 56, 57 bias auxiliary slide members 47, 48 against roller guide means 54, 55.

Additional spring means 58, S9 interconnect the outer ends 6t), 61 of arms 43, 44 with the back or rearward end 62 of the head 21 and thereby bias slide member 39 rearwardly, i.e. to the right as viewed in FIG. 6.

Consequently, the three movable dies 34, 35, 36 are biased outwardly from the operating space 42 and hence away from stationary die 38.

The back end 63 of slide member 39 is afiixed to piston member 64- which rides in hydraulic cylinder 65 and head 21 clamps around cylinder 65, said head being rotatable around cylinder 65 for positioning or alignment. Hydraulic cylinder member 65 has suitable means such as threaded portion 66 for interconnection with suitable hydraulic pump and supply means 22 (see also FIG. 8).

Hydraulic pump means 22 is comprised of pump body 67 to which is pivotally mounted on a lateral extension as thereof socket member 69 in which is rotatably connected pump handle 7% Socket member 69 has respective fore and aft pivot stop members 71 and 72 to limit the pivoting action thereof (see also FIGS. 7 and Pump piston 73 is linked at its outer end with socket member 69 and is reciprocally movable in body 67 by action of socket member 69 through pump handle 70 in the usual fashion. Pumping action of piston 73 draws hydraulic fluid from reservoir 74- through check valve means 75 and delivers the fluid through interconnected passages 76, 77 and 73 into cylinder member 65 of the head 21 to actuate piston 64.

A second handle member 79 is threadably mounted at one end in extension 84} on cap 81 threadably afixed to body 67. Handle 79 has a hollow portion 82 which carries Within it rearward guide portion 83 of piston member 84 which is slideable in reservoir 74.

Handle 79 is threadable into extension 8t? to bring its inner end 85 against flange portion 86 of piston 84- to urge the latter to the left as viewed in FIG. 6 whereby the hydraulic pressure in reservoir 74 is caused to increase as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

Pressure release valve means 87 is included in pump body 67 and is interconnected between passage 78 and reservoir 74 (see also FIG. 13); By adjustment of the tension of spring 88, the rel ase pressure needed at inlet 89 can be preselected to determine the maximum pressure in cylinder 65 at which hydraulic fluid will be released through inlet 89 and pass via outlets 90' and a passage 96A back into hydraulic reservoir 74. The actual operation of the release valve means 87 is indicated by an audible click and a partial release of pressure on the jaw mechanism.

Pump handle 70 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis from a normal pump position shown in FIG. 9 (in the direction of arrow A) clockwise to bring stud 91 in line with release pin 92 of hydraulic pressure release valve means 93 in the pump body 67. With the stud 91 and release pin 92 aligned, pivoting movement of pump handle 70 downward as viewed in FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 10 causes stud 91 to bear against release pin 92 moving the latter downwardly against ball check 94 whereupon hydraulic fluid is permitted to drain from cylinder 65 back through passage 95 into reservoir 74 when handle 79 is unscrewed to its outermost position, i.e. to the right as viewed in PEG. 6 so that piston 34 may move to the right and permit the reservoir 74 to receive additional hydraulic fluid.

Appropriate stop means (not shown) may be provided for limiting the threaded movement of handle 79 into and out of extension 80. Similarly stop means may be provided in socket 69 for limiting the angular rotation of handle 79 therein between the normal pumping and release positions heretofore described.

In use for crimping elongate electrical connectors of malleable metal of the compression sleeve type 96 such as shown in FIG. 2, wherein it is desired to join cables or conductors 97 and 98 in the usual fashion to provide a crimped connection shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the procedure is as follows. Conductors are inserted into the ends of the sleeve and then the sleeve is located within the mouth portion 25 of the tool. At the start the condition of the mechanism and its parts is as shown in FIG. 6 with the dies in an open retracted position and spaced relative to each other to automatically provide for reception of a connector. Handle 79 is then turned clockwise, and thereby screwed into extension so that handle end 35 will bear against piston flange 86 and as a coarse adjustmcnt cause hydraulic fluid to be delivered through the pump mechanism 22 into cylinder 65 of the head 21 and move piston s4 therein to the left as viewed in FIG. 6. Slide member 39 moves against the bias of springs 58 and 59 causing die member 34 to move toward stationary die 38 and by such action dies 35 and 36 likewise move toward one another when the forward movement of slide member 39 and the reaction of roller guide means 54, 55 against auxiliary slide members 47 and 48 moves the latter against their spring bias toward axial extension 40 on slide member 39. The coarse adjustment provided by handle 79 is continued until the sleeve 96 is gripped at four positions spaced around the connector by the four nibs 34, 35, 36 and 38 (see FIG. 14). At this point with the pump handle 70 in its angular position as shown in FIG. 9 it is pumped to actuate piston 73 and continue to deliver hydraulic fluid from the reservoir 74 through check valves 75 into the cylinder 65.

Such pumping action causes the movable dies or nibs to crimp or deform the sleeve 96 radially inwardly in conjunction with stationary die 33 through the progressive stages shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17, until the sleeve is crimped into generally cruciform shape in transverse cross section as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Such progressive radially folding in of the connector sleeve 96 in the manner shown provides the universal adaptability of the tool and connector for joining various diameters of condoctors by one connector. Die 34 moves at twice the rate as dies 35 or 36 to compensate for the stationary die 38 not moving in order that there will be relative movement of the dies equally in all directions to a common center. For example, die 34 moves up one-eighth of an inch while dies 35 and 36 move in one-sixteenth of an inch and up one-sixteenth of an inch. Thus each die is kept substantially equidistant from its respective two adjacent dies throughout the simultaneous movement of the dies.

V The jaw nibs are of a triangular shape, or pointed, havsubstantially twice the rate of movement of each of the dies of said second pair, said dies being movable from an open retracted position wherein they are relatively spaced for reception of a connector toward one another for crimping the connector with each die remaining equidistant from its respective two adjacent dies throughout the simultaneous movement thereof, and means responsive to increase in pressure of the dies on the connector to a predetermined value for automatically relieving the pressure to terminate the crimping operation independently of the extent of die movement.

4. A crimping tool for crimping an elongate malleable metal connector on a cable or the like and deforming the connector so that in its final crimped condition it is of generally cruciform shape in transverse cross section, said tool comprising a head having first and second opposed pairs of male crimping dies arranged about a common operating space and being formed for sidewise entry of a connector on a cable or the like into the operating space via the space between. one of the dies of the first pair and one of the dies of the second pair, one of said first pair of dies being relatively fixed on the head, a first slide member carrying the other die of said first pair on a forward extension thereof facing said fixed die and movable in a rectilinear direction toward the fixed die, an arm member on each side of the forward extension, an auxiliary slide member slidably disposed along its base on each of the arm members, each auxiliary slide member carrying one of said second pair of dies, means on said head engaging said auxiliary slide members to earn said auxiliary slide members simultaneously toward each other along the arm members upon movement of said first slide member and said other die thereon toward said relatively fixed die, means to keep each die substantially equidistant from its respective two adjacent dies throughout the simultaneous movement of the dies, the dies being movable from an open retracted position wherein the dies are relatively spaced for reception of a connector toward one another for crimping the connector, fluid pressure means associated with said first slide member to move said first slide member in a rectilinear direction toward the fixed die upon actuation thereof, and fiuid pressure release means responsive to increase in pressure of the dies on the connector to a predetermined value for automatically relieving the pressure to terminate the crimping operation independently of the extent of die movement.

5. A crimping tool as defined in claim 4 which additionally includes means for biasing said first slide member away from said fixed die and for biasing said auxiliary slide members and dies thereon away from each other.

6. A crimping tool as defined in claim 4 wherein antifricticn means are disposed between said arm members and said auxiliary slide members slidably mounted on the arm members whereby said auxiliary slide members and dies thereon may easily move along the arm members.

7. A crimping tool as defined in claim 4 wherein two relatively fixed roller guides are provided each rotatably mounted in said head and being in rolling contact with a side edge of a respective auxiliary slide member adjacent its base, said side edges being disposed at an angle witi respect to the axis of rectilinear movement of said first slide member, said auxiliary slide members being cammed by contact of their side edges with said roller guides toward each other in a sliding movement along the arm members upon movement of said first guide member toward said fixed die, the movement of said die on said first slide member being at a rate substantially twice that of each of the dies on the auxiliary slide members.

8. A crimping tool for crimping an elongate malleable metal connector on a cable or the like and deforming the connector so that in its final crimped condition it is of generally cruciform shape in transverse cross section, said tool comprising a head having first and second opposed pairs of male crimping dies arranged about a common operating space and being formed for sidewise entry of a connector on a cable or the like into the operating space between one of the dies of the first pair and one of the dies of the second pair, each die having a nose portion for biting into the connector, the nose portion of each of said dies constituting a pair of working faces forming an included angle of about one of said first pair of dies being relatively fixed on the head, a first slide member carrying the other die of said first pair on a forward extension thereof facing said fixed die and movable in a rectilinear direction toward the fixed die, an arm member on each side of the forward extension, bearing means along the forward faces of said arm members, the forward faces being disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rectilinear movement of said first slide member, respective auxiliary slide members slidably mounted along their base edges on said bearing means, each auxiliary slide member carrying one of said second pair of dies, means for biasing said first slide member away from said fixed die, means on said first slide memher for biasing said auxiliary slide members and dies thereon away from each other along said arm members, a pair of relatively fixed roller guides each rotatably mounted in said head and being in rolling contact with a side edge of a respective auxiliary slide member adjacent its base edge, the side edges of the auxiliary slide members being disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rectilinear movement of said first slide member and said auxiliary slide members being cammed toward each other in a sliding movement along the arm members by contact of their side edges with said roller guides upon movement of said first guide member toward said fixed die, each die remaining equidistant from its respective wo adjacent dies throughout a simultaneous movemerit of the dies, the dies being movable from an open retracted position wherein the dies are relatively spaced for reception of a connector toward one another for crimping the connector, fluid pressure means operatively connected to said first slide member to move said first slide member in a rectilinear direction toward the fixed die upon actuation thereof, and hydraulic pressure release means including valve means responsive to increase in fluid pressure to a predetermined value to relieve the pressure and terminate the crimping opera tion independently of the extent of die movement.

9. A crimping tool for crimping an elongate malleable metal connector on a cab-1e or the like and deforming the connector so that in its final crimped condition it is of generally cruciform shape in transverse cross section, said tool comprising first and second opposed pairs of male crimping dies, each having a nose portion for biting into a connector, means mounting each pair of dies for relative movement toward and away from one another with the dies of the first pair Working in a direction generally perpendicular to the dies of the second pair, one of the first pair of dies being fixed relative to said mounting means and the other three dies being simultaneously movable relative to said fixed die from an open retracted position, wherein the dies are relatively spaced for reception of a connector, toward one another for crimpin the connector, said mounting means being formed for sidewise entry of a connector on a cable or the like via the space between one of the dies of the first pair and one of the dies of the second pair and into a position wherein the connector on thecable or the like is located between all four or" the dies when the dies are in their said open position, means for effecting relative movement of said dies simultaneously toward one another for gripping the connector at four positions spaced around the connector and for applying pressure to the dies to cause them to bite into said connector and effect deformation of said connector to generally cruciform shape, means to keep each die substantially equidistant from its respective two adjacent dies throughout the simultaneous movement thereof, and means responsive to increase in pressure of the dies on the connector to a predetennined value for automatically relieving the pressure to terminate the crimping operation independently of the extent of die movement.

10. A crimping tool as defined in claim 9 wherein the nose portion of each of said dies constitutes a pair of working faces forming an included angle of about 120.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Maull May 29, 1934 Douglas May 28, 1935 Douglas May 4, 1937 Eby et a1. Dec. 5, 1939 Peterson Dec. 14, 1954 McVey Sept. 15, 1959 Klingler et a1. Jan. 19, 1960 Fuller Jan. 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 19, 1955 

1. A CRIMPING TOOL FOR CRIMPING AN ELONGATE MALLEABLE METAL CONNECTOR ON A CABLE OR THE LIKE AND DEFORMING THE CONNECTOR SO THAT IN ITS FINAL CRIMPED CONDITION IT IS OF GENERALLY CRUCIFORM SHAPE IN TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION, SAID TOOL COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED PAIRS OF MALE CRIMPING DIES, EACH HAVING A NOSE PORTION FOR BITING INTO A CONNECTOR, SINGLE RIGID MEANS WITH ALL OF SAID DIES MOUNTED THEREON FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER WITH THE DIES OF THE FIRST PAIR WORKING IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIES OF THE SECOND PAIR, AND WITH SAID DIES BEING MOVABLE FROM AN OPEN RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN THEY ARE RELATIVELY SPACED FOR RECEPTION OF A CONNECTOR TOWARD ONE ANOTHER FOR CRIMPING THE CONNECTOR, SAID MOUNTING MEANS AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING A SIDEWISE ENTRY FOR A CONNECTOR ON A CABLE OR THE LIKE BETWEEN ONE OF THE DIES OF THE FIRST PAIR AND ONE OF THE DIES OF THE SECOND PAIR WHENEVER THE DIES ARE IN THEIR SAID OPEN POSITION WHEREBY THE CONNECTOR ON THE CABLE OR THE LIKE MAY BE LOCATED BETWEEN ALL FOUR OF THE DIES WHEN THE DIES ARE IN THEIR SAID OPEN POSITION BY RELATIVE SIDEWISE MOVEMENT OF THE MOUNTING MEANS AND THE CONNECTOR, MEANS FOR EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID DIES SIMULTANEOUSLY TOWARD ONE ANOTHER FOR GRIPPING THE CONNECTOR AT FOUR POSITIONS SPACED AROUND THE CONNECTOR AND FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE DIES TO CAUSE THEM TO BITE INTO SAID CONNECTOR AND EFFECT DEFORMATION OF SAID CONNECTOR TO GENERALLY CRUCIFORM SHAPE, MEANS TO KEEP EACH DIE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIDISTANT FROM ITS RESPECTIVE TWO ADJACENT DIES THROUGHOUT THE SIMULTANEOUS MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO INCREASE IN PRESSURE OF THE DIES ON THE CONNECTOR TO A PREDETERMINED VALUE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELIEVING THE PRESSURE TO TERMINATE THE CRIMPING OPERATION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE EXTENT OF DIE MOVEMENT. 